Camp stove wind shield latch

ABSTRACT

A camp stove of the portable variety having a lid portion hinged to a base portion is disclosed. The base portion carries the burners, a grill and a grease tray for protecting the base against spattering. A pair of wind shields are hinged to opposite ends of the tray and are folded down so as to overlie the grill and burners. The wind shields are erected by pivoting approximately ninety degrees and are fastened to the erected lid portion by spring clips.

United States Patent 1 Finley 51 Jan. 30, 1973 [54] CAMP STOVE WIND SHIELD LATCH [75] Inventor: Carl E. Finley, Sycamore, Ill.

[73] Assignee: Olin Corporation [22] Filed: Aug. 25,197]

[21] Appl. N0.: 174,709

[52] U.S. Cl ..126/38 [51] Int. Cl. ..F24c 5/20 [58] Field of Search ..I26/38, 9

[56] References Cited FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS 1,303,566 8/1962 France ..l26/38 277,591 1/1966 Australia ..I26/9 R Primary Examiner-William F. ODea Assistant Examiner-Harold Joyce Att0meyDonald R. Motsko et al.

[57] ABSTRACT A camp stove of the portable variety having a lid portion hinged to a base portion is disclosed. The base portion carries the burners, a grill and a grease tray for protecting the base against spattering. A pair of wind shields are hinged to opposite ends of the tray and are folded down so as to overlie the grill and burners. The wind shields are erected by pivoting approximately ninety degrees and are fastened to the erected lid portion by spring clips.

2 Claims, 4 Drawing Figures PATENTEDJAH 30 1975 CARL E F/NLE Y INVENTOR BY MWW.%W ATTOR EY CAMP STOVE WIND SHIELD LATCH This invention relates generally to portable camp stoves and more particularly to means'for mounting wind shields on such stoves and latching the wind shields in the erected positions.

Portable camp stoves having a case with a bottom portion, a lid portion, and pivotally mounted wind shields are known generally in the prior art. The bottom portion of the stove case generally contains the stove burners and carries a grill upon which utensils are placed for heating by the burners. The bottom portion may also carry a tray used to protect the bottom from spattering and simplify cleaning of the stove. The lid of the stove case is generally hinged to the bottom portion and can be folded or pivoted down to a position overlying the bottom portion and latched thereto close the stove for storage and transportation. When the stove is used, the lid is pivoted to a position approximately 90 from the storage position so that it extends vertically from the bottom portion. The wind shields are then erected at opposite ends ofthe stove so that the burner flame is shielded from wind on three sides by the top and by the wind shields. The wind shields are generally secured in some manner to the top and bottom portions of the stove when erected. The shields may be hinged to the top and secured to the bottomwith wires, spring clips, or simply may rest on the edges of the bottom portion. Alternatively, the shields may be clipped to both the bottom and top portions of the stove. Thus the wind shields serve two purposes, one of which is to aid in shielding the burners from wind, and the other of which is to secure the top portion of the stove in its erected position and provide rigidity to the stove in the erected configuration. It is apparent for maximum safety in using portable camp stoves, that the wind shields should be firmly secured in place before the burners are lit so as toensure that the lid will not accidentally fall down onto the burner flame, or onto something cooking on the burner flame. Also the interlock between the wind shields, the lid, and the bottom portion of the stove should be such as to guard against the possibility that wind blowing on the stove could disengage the wind shields so as to collapse the stove.

The camp stove of this invention includes wind shields which are pivotally and integrally mounted on the bottom portion of the stove case and which are pivotable between a first position overlying the stove grill and burners, and a second position substantially normal to the plane of the stove grill. The wind shields are disposed in their first position when the stove is collapsed for storage and transportation, and are disposed in their second position when the stove is erected for use. The lid portion of the stove case, and the wind shields include substantially parallel flanges which are positioned adjacent to each other when the stove is erected. Spring clip means are mounted on one of the lid and wind shield flanges and are grippingly interlockable with the other of the lid and wind shield flanges so that the wind shields and lid are capable of being locked together when the stove is erected. By positioning the wind shields over the grill and burners when the stove case is collapsed for storage, one will never forget to erect the wind shields properly when the stove is erected for use since the wind shields, if not erected, cover the burners thus preventing the latter from being used.

It is, therefore, an object of this invention to provide a portable camp stove having a case with a bottom portion carrying burners and grill, and a lidportion hinged to the bottom portion and movable from a storage position overlying the bottom portion to anerected position substantially normal to the bottom portion, and a pair of wind shields pivotally mounted on the bottom portion and movable from storage positions overlying the grilland burners to=erected positions substantially normalto thegrill.

It is yet another object of this invention to provide a camp stove of the character described having inter locking means for securing the windshield to the lid when in the respective erected positions.

It is still another object of this invention to provide a camp stoveof the character described wherein the interlocking means includes parallel flanges on the lid and wind shields, and clip means mounted on one of the lid and shield flanges and engagable with the other of the lid and shield flanges.

These and other objects and advantages of the invention will be more readily apparent from the following detailed description of a preferredembodiment of the invention taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a preferred embodiment of a camp stove formed in accordance with the invention, the stove lid and one of the wind shields being shown in its erected position, and the other wind shield being shown in its collapsed or storage position;

FIG. 2 isa perspective view of one of the wind shields preferred for use with the stove of FIG. 1, clearly showing the manner in which the spring clip latch is mounted on the wind shield;

FIG. 3 is a horizontal sectional view of a portion of the erected stove showing the manner in which the wind shield and stove lid are interlocked when erected;

and

FIG. 4 is a front view of a portion of the stove showing how the wind shield overlies the grill and burner when in the collapsed or storage position, the lid of the stove case being shown in phantom in its collapsed or storage position.

Referring now to FIG. 1, the camp stove 2 includes a bottom portion 4 which carries a tray 6 and a pair of burners 8, one of which burners 8 is hidden from view by the right hand wind shield 10 shown in its collapsed or storage position. Both wind shields are pivotally mounted on the tray 6 by means of hinges 12. A grill 14 is disposed on the tray 6 for supporting cooking utensils above the burners 8. Each wind shield 10 includes a main body portion l6 and an inwardly turned flange portion 18. The stove case also includes a lid portion 20 which is hinged to the bottom portion 4-. The lid 20 includes a top wall 22 and a side wall 24 which terminates in an inwardly extending flange 26. The lid flange 26 and the wind shield flange 18 are substantially parallel and side-by-side when the stove is erected,.as is shown by the position of the left hand wind shield and the lid 20 in FIG. 1.

The stove 2 also includes a fuel conduit 28 connected to a fuel cylinder 30. The conduit 28 extends into the stove bottom portion 4 and-is connected to the burners 8 in a conventional manner. Fuel control knobs 32 are mounted on the bottom portion 4 and are operative in a conventional manner to increase, decrease and stop fuel flow to the burners. An ignition knob 34 for actuating a piezo-electric ignitor (not shown) is mounted on the bottom portion 4. A pair of latches 36 and catches 38 are mounted on the bottom portion 4 and lid 20 respectively to hold the lid against the bottom portion in a conventional manner when the stove is collapsed for storage and transporting. An ignition tube 40 is mounted on the grill 14 to provide a conduit through which fuel is passed from the burner 8 to a sparking area in the middle of the stove and through which flame is flashed back to the burner 8 to ignite the latter.

While the stove shown in the drawings is a propane stove, it will be readily appreciated that the invention can be used with stoves that burn other hydrocarbon fuels. It is apparent from FIG. 1 that one will not inadvertently neglect to properly erect the wind shields 10 on the stove because of the fact that, unless properly erected, the wind shields l overlie the burners and thus prevent use of the burners.

Referring now to FIGS. 2 and 3, the means and manner whereby the wind shields are secured to the lid are shown. A spring clip 42 is secured to the wind shield flange 18 by being mounted in an aperture 44 in the flange 18. The clip 42 includes a projecting portion 46 which is positioned in the aperture 44, and a springy gripping portion 48 with an outwardly turned terminal 50. The projection 46 and gripping portion 48 combine to hold the clip 42 in the aperture 44. The gripping portion 48 is sprung against the lid flange 26 so as to hold the lid flange 26 and the wind shield flange 18 in snug engagement when the stove is erected. Although the clip 42 is shown as being mounted on the wind shield 10 by extending through the aperture 44, it will be understood that the clip 42 could be welded, soldered, or otherwise adhesively secured to the wind shield 10 or made integral therewith without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. It is noted that by providing the lid 20 with an inwardly extending flange 26 which is engaged by the clip 42, the lid 20 is positively held against movement about its pivoting axis in both directions. Thus wind blowing on the inside surface of the lid top 22 cannot disengage the lid 20 from the clip 42 and wind shield 10 to cause the stove to collapse. Such would not be the case were the wind shield 10 merely clipped to the side wall 24 of the lid 20.

Referring to FIG. 4, the collapsed or folded condition of the stove is shown most clearly. It is noted that the wind shield 10 includes a laterally extending bottom foot portion 11 at the terminal of which are located the hinges 12. This foot 11 permits the wind shield main wall portion 16 to overlie the grill l4 and burner 8 even though the grill is somewhat elevated above the burner. The lid 20 (shown in phantom), when in its collapsed or folded position overlies the folded wind shield 10 to form a compact package. It is readily apparent that one cannotuse the burner 8 without firstdisplacing the wind shield 10 from its collapsed position.

It will be readily appreciated that the stove construction of this invention provides for added safety in that the burners cannot be used without first erecting the wind shields, and wind impinging upon the erected lid cannot cause collapse of the erected stove by disengaging the lid from the wind shields. The stove construction is of a simple nature, yet rugged and easy to erect.,

Since many changes and varlations of the disclosed embodiment of the invention may be made without de parting from the inventive concept, it is not intended to limit the invention otherwise than as required by the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. A portable camp stove comprising:

a. casing means including a bottom portion and a lid portion hinged to said bottom portion for movement between a collapsed position overlying said bottom portion and an erected position substantially normal to said bottom portion; burner means mounted on said bottom portion of said casing, and a grill overlying said burner means;

. wind shield means pivotally carried by said bottom portion of said casing for movement between a collapsed position overlying said grill and said burner means to prevent use of the latter, and an erected position substantially normal to planes containing said grill to uncover said grill and said burner means;

d. latching means operative to secure said wind shield means to said lid portion of said casing to hold said wind shield means and said lid portion in their respective erected positions;

. flanges formed on said casing lid portion and said wind shield means, said flanges being substantially parallel and arranged side by side when said lid portion and said wind shield means are in their respective erected positions; and

f. a resilient clip engaging said flange on said lid portion and said flange on said wind shield means to hold said wind shield means and said lid portion in their respective erected positions.

A portable camp stove comprising:

casing means including a bottom portion providing a base for said stove;

b. burner means mounted on said casing means bottom portion, and a grill overlying said burner means;

c. lid means pivotally mounted on said casing means bottom portion and movable between a collapsed position overlying said bottom portion and an erected position substantially normal to said bottom portion, said lid means including a side wall and a terminal flange on said side wall substantially normal thereto;

d. wind shield means pivotally carried by said casing means bottom portion and having a major planar portion movable between a collapsed position overlying said grill and said burner means and an erected position substantially normal to planes containing said grill to uncover said grill and said burner means, said wind shield means including a flange substantially normal to said planar portion which flange is disposed side-by-side with said lid means terminal flange when said lid means and said wind shield means are both in their respective erected positions; and

. means operative to secure said wind shield flange to said lid means terminal flange to hold said wind shield means and said lid .means in their respective erected positions.

, TED STATES PATENT @TTTQE QER'llFlQATE @ZT @RRECN@N Patent 3713,432 Dated January 30, 1973 Inventor(s) Carl E. Finley It is certified that error appears in the above-identified patent and that said Letters Patent are hereby corrected as shown below:

In Claim 1 please delete the following:-

"d. Latching means operative to secure said wind shield means to said lid portion of said casing to hold said wind shield means and said lid portion in their respective erected p ositionsg" Column 4, 1ine 28, "e" should read d and line 33, "f" should read H e Signed-and sealed this 10th day of July 1973.

(SEAL) Attest:

EDWARD M.FLETCHER,JR. Rene Tegtmeyer Attesting Officer Acting Commissioner .of Patents FORM PO-IOSO (10-69) USCOMM-DC 60376-PG9 

1. A portable camp stove comprising: a. casing means including a bottom portion and a lid portion hinged to said bottom portion for movement between a collapsed position overlying said bottom portion and an erected position substantially normal to said bottom portion; b. burner means mounted on said bottom portion of said casing, and a grill overlying said burner means; c. wind shield means pivotally carried by said bottom portion of said casing for movement between a collapsed position overlying said grill and said burner means to prevent use of the latter, and an erecTed position substantially normal to planes containing said grill to uncover said grill and said burner means; d. latching means operative to secure said wind shield means to said lid portion of said casing to hold said wind shield means and said lid portion in their respective erected positions; e. flanges formed on said casing lid portion and said wind shield means, said flanges being substantially parallel and arranged side by side when said lid portion and said wind shield means are in their respective erected positions; and f. a resilient clip engaging said flange on said lid portion and said flange on said wind shield means to hold said wind shield means and said lid portion in their respective erected positions.
 1. A portable camp stove comprising: a. casing means including a bottom portion and a lid portion hinged to said bottom portion for movement between a collapsed position overlying said bottom portion and an erected position substantially normal to said bottom portion; b. burner means mounted on said bottom portion of said casing, and a grill overlying said burner means; c. wind shield means pivotally carried by said bottom portion of said casing for movement between a collapsed position overlying said grill and said burner means to prevent use of the latter, and an erecTed position substantially normal to planes containing said grill to uncover said grill and said burner means; d. latching means operative to secure said wind shield means to said lid portion of said casing to hold said wind shield means and said lid portion in their respective erected positions; e. flanges formed on said casing lid portion and said wind shield means, said flanges being substantially parallel and arranged side by side when said lid portion and said wind shield means are in their respective erected positions; and f. a resilient clip engaging said flange on said lid portion and said flange on said wind shield means to hold said wind shield means and said lid portion in their respective erected positions. 